Author: Kharatian Ani

8countnews.com
July 12 2009

Joseph Agbeko dominates Darchinyan and Introduces Himself to the Boxing World

By
Chris Robinson

Much was on the line heading into Saturday’s night showdown between
IBF Bantamweight Champion Joseph Agbeko and two-division champion Vic
Darchinyan. Outside of Agbeko’s prized IBF hardware was a deep matter
of passion and pride, as both men had gotten extremely personal with
one another in regards to their proclamations of victory. The verbal
warfare was intense and many figured the only that could top it was
the action that would take place within the ropes when the two men
clashed. In the early rounds Agbeko seemed very poised as he appeared
to take the first two rounds. The champion from Ghana simply seemed to
be a little busier and Darchinyan was having trouble getting off. In
the third Agbeko appeared to up the ante as he surprised Darchinyan
with numerous right hand shots. Vic appeared to be frustrated but
Agbeko remained poised and finished the round with another solid
rally. In the fourth Darchinyan came out recklessly with little
effect.

Agbeko began to take serious control in this stanza and he was
befuddling Darchinyan with his lateral movement and unorthodox
style. A late rally by Darchinyan didn’t appear to be enough to steal
the round. The fifth round started out fast as well as both men
exchanged combinations in center ring to start off the round. Agbeko
began making the fight more physical and his punches were landing at a
higher rate. Darchinyan’s face told the story, as he began bleeding
out of his nose while also appearing to get more gassed. The sixth
round was a slow round but you got the feeling that Darchinyan was
running out of time, as Agbeko again appeared to edge his older
foe. The seventh was more of the same because even though the action
wasn’t scintillating you could tell who was in command. The seventh
round saw Darchinyan score a late knockdown that appeared to be
somewhat of a push. With the knockdown Darchinyan would look to steal
some momentum heading into the next round. In the eighth round Agbeko
turned up the pressure once again, knowing full well he had to regain
control of the bout after suffering a knockdown towards the end of the
eighth. He did just that and a late round rally by the African
punctuated another solid round. Darchinyan had more success in the
ninth as he landed some big left hands but Agbeko was undaunted and
his chin stood up to everything. In the tenth Darchinyan appeared to
get frustrated and shoved Agbeko to the canvas. The champion rose to
finish the round strongly. Bleeding and seemingly out of answers,
Darchinyan appeared to be in big trouble. Agbeko appeared to make
throat slashing gestures to kick off the eleventh round and he could
smell victory. He controlled the round with his aggression and began
overpowering his Armenian foe. Coming into the final round Agbeko
appeared prime and fresh while Darchinyan appeared very weary. Both
men fought furiously early on and it was a true sign of the
championship quality each possess. As the round came to a close the
crowd erupted and rose to their feet. Both men were raised in the air
but there was only one clear winner. Scores of 116-111, and shockingly
114-113 twice were read in favor of Agbeko, who retains his IBF title
while also showing the boxing world the elite level he is on. At the
end of the day we all learned a valuable lesson. No matter how much
buzz a fighter has created for himself you never want to overlook his
opponent, especially when they are a champion. Vic Darchinyan has
proven his toughness but tonight belonged to Joseph `King Kong’
Agbeko. Under the bright lights he truly arrived and nobody can take
July 11th away from him.

FM ON VISIT TO ARMENIA

Athens News Agency
July 3, 2009 Friday
Greece

Greek foreign minister and Organisation for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) chairperson-in-office Dora Bakoyannis was in Yerevan on
Friday, where she met with her Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian.

Speaking to the press afterwards, Bakoyannis said: "It is a real
pleasure to be in Yerevan. A Greek feels like home in Armenia. Our
peoples have shared too much history together and this has built
strong, long lasting ties that continue to serve as a catalyst for
our two countries relations. The signing of the aviation agreement
is testimony of our excellent relations".

"I am here today both in my capacity as Chairperson of the OSCE and
as the Foreign Minister of Greece. I am here as a friend who can
contribute in Armenias path towards a closer relationship with Europe
and its institutions," Bakoyannis noted.

"Let me start with the OSCE. As you probably know, last weekend,
Greece hosted the first-ever informal ministerial OSCE meeting that
launched the Corfu Process. I want to thank Minister Nalbandian for
his significant contribution.

We count on Armenias continued support as we embark on our open and
frank dialogue on European security, in view of the Athens December
Ministerial Meeting," she added.

"Today we will inaugurate the OSCEs new offices in Yerevan. It is very
important that the OSCE Office in Yerevan enjoys such a high level
of cooperation with Armenia. Its activities include mitigating the
impact of the financial crisis at a critical time, co-operation with
the police and supporting the office of the Human Rights Defender. I
am confident that we can deepen this cooperation. The Office is here
to serve the people of Armenia and to assist them as they build an
open, free and democratic society. As they lay the foundation for a
stronger civil society, respectful of its past and ready to take the
future into its own hands," Bakoyannis continued.

"For more than a year now, Armenia and Azerbaijan (which Bakoyannis
visited on Thursday) have participated constructively, at the
top level, in a new round of negotiations that have inspired
optimism. Talks are at a critical point. I am encouraged by the
political will expressed by both sides and the Minsk Groups commitment
to bring about positive results," she said.

Bakoyannis further stressed that: "Armenia is an important country for
stability in the South Caucasus. While continuing political reforms
at home, it had begun a sensitive dialogue with Turkey. It has
demonstrated maturity and self-confidence that larger and stronger
countries often miss. I wish you well in your efforts and express
sincere hope they will be successful".

In closing, Bakoyannis noted that Greek-Armenian bilateral relations
"are excellent". "Greece and Armenia are natural friends and
partners. We consider Armenia as part of Europe and we are ready to
work with you in order to bring your country closer to the European
Union," she concluded.

EaiiieeuOoieTHORNecineoiiyEsooaineoith orniAeayeoiocOYeioouniaoAnTHORNouniaoForeign
Minis ter Ms. D. Bakoyannis departs on Wednesday, 1st June 2009,
to Baku, Azerbaijan, and on Thursday, 2nd June, to Yerevan, Armenia,
under her capacity as Chairperson of the OSCE. In Baku, Ms. Bakoyannis
will meet, firstly, with Azerbaijans Parliament President Mr. Asadov,
she will visit the offices of the OSCE mission while she will hold
meetings with the representatives of political parties. On Thursday
2 June, the foreign minister will be received by the President of
Azerbaijan Mr.

Aliyev and will meet with her Azeri counterpart Mr. Mammadyarov. The
same day, Ms. Bakoyannis will arrive in Yerevan where she will
inaugurate the offices of the OSCE mission and will meet with the
President of the Armenian Parliament Mr. Abrahamyan. On Friday,
3 June, the foreign minister will be received by the President of
Armenia Mr. Sargsyan and will meet with her Armenian counterpart Mr.

Nalbandian. Finally, she will hold meetings with representatives of
political parties.

WASHINGTON CREATES TURKEY’S NEW IMAGE TO PUSH IT INTO THE EU

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
11.07.2009 14:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Member of ARF Dashnaktsutyun parliamentary
group Vahan Hovhannisian said he shares concerns of former Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian, who presumed that the Nagorno Karabakh
issue can become an article of commerce in the light of U.S.- Russian
rapprochement.

"History knows a large number of cases when the destiny of small
countries was determined by superpowers," he said when responding to
a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter’s question.

He also reminded that in their statement, the OSCE MG Co-chairs
stressed the necessity of soonest resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict.

"It’s clear enough that these processes are conditioned by the wish
to have the Armenian-Turkish border opened. It’s not a secret either
that the Armenian-Turkish talks are not directed by Turkey alone. The
fact is that Washington creates Turkey’s new image to push it into
the EU," Mr. Hovhannisian said.

TSVETANA PASKALEVA: ARMENIANS, WITH ALL THE EVIDENCE, AT A DISADVANTAGE IN PROPAGANDA WAR

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
09.07.2009 17:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Three times the Azerbaijani authorities sentenced
to death the Bulgarian journalist Tsvetana Paskaleva for her coverage
of the Karabakh war. She believes that, unlike Armenia, Azerbaijan
carries out a consistent, well-organized propaganda war and has
victories on this front.

"With a strong historical and legal proof of its righteousness, the
Armenian side has not implemented the required work in the field of
propaganda, and has not even provided basic information. From this
perspective, the Armenian side is visibly losing its way. The world
community does not seek to touch bottom and take ready information,
which is mainly provided by the Azerbaijani side, forgetting, as
a rule, the historical truth and distorting the facts," Tsvetana
Paskaleva stressed.

7 films about the Karabakh war Paskaleva shot are stored in
long-obsolete VHS format, though they could be successfully used to
inform the world public.

"I do not understand the reason of such a situation, maybe someone
should ask me for my films to educate and advocate, but to date, nobody
did," Tsvetana Paskaleva told a news conference in Yerevan today.

Tsvetana Paskaleva is a well-known Bulgarian journalist, director,
scenario writer. film operator and member of the International
Documentary Association (Los Angeles). Since May 1991, she has shot
documentaries about the interethnic conflicts between Armenians and
Azeris. The following 7 films are devoted to Karabakh: "Altitudes,
Hopes" (1991), "Will Morning Smile upon Karabakh?" (1992), "My
Dear Living and Dead" (1993), "The Wounds of Karabakh" (1994),
"Soldiers of Their Land" (1994), "Calmness" (1995), "Belief and
Spirit" (devoted to the liberation of Shushi, 2001). Beginning 1995,
Paskaleva worked in Armenian television as a director; she hosted "My
Dear Living and Dead" Russian language broadcast about Karabakh. The
broadcast was closed down in 1997, by the order of the then President
Levon Ter-Petrosyan. Since 1998, Tsvetana Paskaleva started running
"Aspect" TV broadcast which was closed down in 2000.

RUSSIAN, FRENCH U.S. LEADERS MAY ADOPT STATEMENT ON KARABAKH

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
09.07.2009 13:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russia can adopt a joint statement with two
other Group of Eight members at the ongoing summit in Italy on a
long-running territorial dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia,
a Kremlin aide said. Arkady Dvorkovich told reporters after the
first day of the summit in the Italian mountain town of L’Aquila:
"Consultations are being held on Nagorno Karabakh on the form of a
declaration, and essentially, we agree on the issue." "We expect that
such a declaration could be produced. But it is more likely to be a
statement from three countries – Russia, France, and the United States
– than from the G8," he said. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan met in Prague last month to discuss
the conflict, on the sidelines of the EU’s Eastern Partnership summit,
and said some progress had been reached, RIA Novosti reported.

EUROPEAN JOURNALISTS GIVE ARMENIA THE THUMBS UP

ForImmediateRelease.Net
July 8, 2009

(Forimmediaterelease.net) A group of nine prominent European
journalists undertaking a 5-day trip to Armenia recently, as part
of a UNWTO-supported familiarization trip, gave the country a big
thumbs up. "People from the US and Europe are looking for something
exotic, and Armenia represents that. It’s incredible!" quoted UK
freelancer, Nick Easen, during a workshop with Armenian tourism
industry representatives. The journalists, from Italy, Spain,
and the UK, were introduced to a combination of Armenia’s unique
hospitality and the outstanding cultural and natural heritage during
the intensive tour throughout the country. "Armenia is one of those
places that touches the heart. I’ve had 3 or 4 ‘golden moments’
during my short stay here," said UK freelancer, John Bell, during a
talk-show program on Armenia TV, where the journalists were invited
to share their impressions and make recommendations on improving
Armenia’s image. The Armenian Tourism Development Agency hosts
a number of group and individual familiarization trips each year
focusing particularly on their target markets of Italy, France,
the UK, Russia, and USA. About ATDA The Armenian Tourism Development
Agency (ATDA) was established as the government’s tourism promotional
arm in June 2001. In partnership with private businesses, it aims to
market Armenia in local and international markets, and create programs
aiding the overall development of Armenia’s tourism industry. Syuzanna
Azoyan, Marketing Director Armenian Tourism Development Agency Email:
[email protected] Phone: +374 10- 542306 Web:

LUXEMBOURG SAYS REMOVED FROM TAX HAVEN "GREY LIST"

Post Chronicle
Jul 8, 2009

Luxembourg has been removed from a "grey list" of countries seen
by the OECD as lacking financial transparency, Budget Minister Luc
Frieden said on Wednesday. "As of this afternoon Luxembourg will be
on the OECD tax haven white list," Frieden told a news conference.

The Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
had placed Luxembourg on the so-called grey list of countries that
have agreed to improve transparency standards but have not yet signed
the necessary international accords.

Frieden said Luxembourg had signed 12 agreements of exchange of
information. By the end of the year, 15 agreements would be signed,
with Belgium and Germany to follow in the coming weeks.

"We negotiated quickly and with serious countries," Frieden said.

BURJANADZE ALLEGES GEORGIAN RAILWAYS TO BE SOLD TO RUSSIA

Messenger.ge
July 7, 2009

One of the leaders of the opposition, former Chair of Parliament Nino
Burjanadze, has made a special statement alleging that the Georgian
leadership is carrying out confidential negotiations to sell Georgian
Railways to Russia. This statement is made while the Government itself
is continually saying that the non-Parliamentary opposition in general
and Nino Burjanadze herself have certain contacts with Russia. In her
statement Burjanadze says that as Georgian state officials are facing
serious problems in collecting budgetary revenues selling the railways
is being considered as a way of obtaining budget income. She says that
Moscow already manages the Armenian Railways and has renamed them the
South Caucasus Railways and Moscow has also rehabilitated the Abkhazian
segment of Georgian Railways. Right after the August aggression
the Kremlin said it would create a rail link between Vladikavkaz in
Northern Ossetia and Tskhinvali in South Ossetia. Therefore Russia
plans to get hold of Georgian Railways also to achieve this.

For these reasons Burjanadze concludes that the Georgian leadership
is preparing to give the management of Georgian Railways to the
Russian side, however she warns all the sides that Georgia’s future
administration will revise any such agreements and urges Georgia’s
current leadership, the Russian Federation and our Western friends
not to allow such a contract to be concluded, because as soon as the
current administration is changed all such agreements will be annulled
and these assets will return to the Georgian state and people.

It should be noted that the Georgian Government categorically denies
Burjanadze’s allegations and states that no such step is planned.

ECONOMIC SLUMP IN ARMENIA MAY EXCEED 16%

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
07.07.2009 12:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said economic
slump in the republic may exceed 16%.

"The slump is conditioned by problems in construction industry,
which has a multiplicative impact on all other sectors of economy,"
Mr. Sargsyan said during "Impact of the Global Crisis on Armenia:
Short- and Long-run Perspectives" international conference.

"We expect deterioration in the coming months but the situation may
improve by the yearend," he said.

The economic slump in Armenia made 15.7% during the period from
January to May. The slump in construction industry reached 56.1%.

IMMIGRANTS BECOME NEW CITIZENS ON JULY 4 IN PORTSMOUTH
By Geoff Cunningham Jr.

Foster’s Daily Democrat
gcunninghamfosters.com
Sunday, July 5, 2009

John Huff/Staff photographer Rosa Gonzalez, left, and Alejandria
Rosario De Vargas take the oath of allegiance Saturday to become
United States citizens during this year’s naturalization ceremony at
Strawbery Banke.

PORTSMOUTH – Joel Alonzo, 15 minutes after becoming a United States
citizen, said he knows the opportunities his new country holds for
him and what he has to offer America.

"This is my best day," the paralegal and aspiring lawyer said. "I
have the chance to make a contribution to this country."

Alonzo, 43, a native of the Dominican Republic, was among about
195 immigrants who became United States citizens Saturday during a
naturalization ceremony at Strawbery Banke.

The waving of American flags and tears of joy marked an event that
saw families from all over the world coming together to celebrate
their first Fourth of July holiday.

It wasn’t lost on Gov. John Lynch that holding the ceremony on
Independence Day reflected an American story of individuals continuing
to embrace life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

"Your desire and pursuit of citizenship reminds us of what it is to
be Americans. What you do is now up to you … that’s the beauty of
America," he said.

He was among the guests who paid homage to the individuals who spent
years working with U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services to finally
earn their new status.

The governor urged Saturday’s assembly to enjoy the freedoms bestowed
on them, but also stressed that responsibilities come with it.

He urged the newly sworn Americans to give back to their communities
through volunteering and take part in voting, which he called more
of a duty than a right.

"Make the most of it, because your America is whatever you want it
to be. You will help us keep the nation strong," Lynch said.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Boston District Office
Director Denis Riordan – the son of immigrant parents himself –
appeared to get teary-eyed when he talked about a country whose ideals
haven’t changed as it has welcomed individuals looking for opportunity.

"In this country there are no limits," Riordan said.

The ceremony saw him and others honoring Joseph Francis – a
particularly unique applicant who received a Bronze Star and several
other medals for heroism while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps in
the Vietnam War.

Francis – of Native American heritage – is Canadian, but served the
United States and was injured when a grenade exploded near him in
August of 1968. He was also shot in the back, but asked to return to
his unit despite being offered the chance to go home after a stay in
a Guam military hospital.

Francis led the group in their first pledge of allegiance.

Riordan said Francis has earned his rights as an American.

"We owe that to you," Riordan said.

Those becoming citizens on Saturday hailed from 49 countries, ranging
from Armenia and Chile to Tanzania and Iran. A number of them came
from India and the Dominican Republic.

Alonzo said he has lived in the United States for 15 years and worked
hard to earn his new status.

The Lawrence, Mass., resident said he works as a paralegal and plans
to attend law school.

Preeta Sharma, 33, was born in India. She said she came to the United
States for the jobs and the lifestyle it affords her family. She was
all smiles Saturday as she sat with others and awaited the taking of
their oath.

"It’s really exciting. Nothing could be better than this day,"
Sharma said.

She works for a health insurance provider and has spent more than
seven years in the country.

"Last election we wanted to vote so much for Obama," Sharma said.

Ravi Kulbushan, 35, another native of India, echoed her sentiment.

"You feel like part of the country and you want to contribute more,"
he said.

Kulbushan – a senior software engineer – said America affords
individuals unlimited opportunity that isn’t an option in other
countries.

"You can do whatever you want to do," he said.

Lawrence Yerdon, president of the Strawbery Banke Museum, said it
was appropriate the ceremony took place at a Portsmouth landmark,
a location with a long history of serving as the home of immigrants
searching for a new life in the United States.